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What Is Green Power? Green power is electricity generated from renewable sources like geothermal, solar and wind energy, biomass and hydroelectricity with a low environmental impact. It is available to consumers in markets that are deregulated who want to help support green energy sources by adding a small premium to their utility bill. Renewable energy sources are generally less harmful to the planet than oil drilling or coal mining. They also help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Solar Energy Solar energy is a favored green energy source. Solar energy is a renewable source because it never runs out. It is a clean and efficient energy source, which reduces air pollution as well as greenhouse gas emissions resulting from fossil fuels like oil, coal, and natural gas. This energy is also a viable alternative to nuclear power, which requires mining and extraction of uranium, as well as long-term radioactive waste storage. Photovoltaic panels, and concentrated solar-thermal energy (CSP) are all ways to harness the sun's power. Solar energy can be directly channeled into homes and businesses or it can be delivered to grids that supply electricity to other customers. Some consumers can sell excess energy to the utility company. This can reduce electricity bills and offset rising utility costs. Solar energy does not produce emissions or air pollutants, unlike fossil fuels which produce harmful carbon dioxide and harmful gases when they are burned. Solar energy can be used to power satellites, boats, spacecrafts, and other devices that are located in areas where access to the grid is a challenge or even impossible. On smaller scales solar can also be utilized to power buildings. Many homeowners put PV solar panels on their roofs to produce electricity and passive solar home design lets these homes take in sun's rays during the day to provide warmth, and then store it at night. green power electric mobility scooter -powered homes also have the benefit of requiring very little maintenance. Hydropower is another kind of solar energy that uses the natural flow in rivers, streams dams, and streams. Hydropower, similar to biomass and wind is a renewable resource because it can be replenished. If you are looking to add hydropower to your home or business look into the EPA's list of third party certified options. Geothermal Energy A geothermal plant uses the heat of the Earth to generate electricity. The process takes advantage of steam and hot water that naturally occur a few kilometers below the surface of the Earth. It is renewable and a sustainable energy source that produces electricity 24 hours a day, 365 of the year. Geothermal energy can help reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, and is one of the most environmentally friendly forms of energy generation. The most commonly used geothermal power station is the flash-steam plant. It uses water that is heated to 182degree C or 360deg F to power turbines and produce electricity. Steam can be used to heat industrial processes or buildings. Iceland for instance, relies on geothermal energy to melt snow and heat its streets, sidewalks and parking spaces in the cold Arctic winter. Another geothermal energy source is the hot dry rock (HDR) power plant that taps underground reservoirs of hot dry rocks that are heated by man-made or natural activities. HDR plants are simpler to construct and operate as they require less infrastructure. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory estimates that there is enough HDR resources in the United States to meet all of our current electricity needs. The steam generated by geothermal power plants can be used to generate electricity by using a steam turbine generator, or be combined with a gas-fired generator to increase efficiency. The resultant mixture could be converted into natural gas, which is then burned in a conventional boiler to produce electricity. In addition to being clean and reliable, geothermal energy is the smallest carbon footprint among all renewable energy sources. Binary-cycle plants, which utilize an engine to convert steam into electricity, produce little-to-no nitrous oxide, methane or sulphur dioxide. Geothermal energy is not without its problems, despite the benefits. Exploring for geothermal power stations could cause earthquakes and pollute groundwater. Injection of high-pressure water streams into geothermal reservoirs may also cause subsidence. This is a gradual sinking that could damage roads, structures pipelines and buildings. Biogas Biogas is a natural gaseous energy source that can be used to generate green power. It can be made from manure, agricultural waste, plant material, municipal waste, sewage food waste and other organic waste materials. Biogas can be used to produce electricity, heat and power and heat, or it can be converted into transport fuels through the Fischer-Tropsch process. Biogas can also be used to create renewable hydrogen which is used in fuel cells. Fuel cells are expected to play a major role in the future energy systems of the world. The most popular method of valorisation of biogas is to generate electricity using a combined heat and power (CHP) plant. The heat generated by the CHP plant is used to fuel the fermentation of organic wastes, while the electricity is then fed back to the grid. It can also be compressed into natural gas, and then incorporated into the existing distribution networks for natural gas. Biogas can be used to substitute for imported natural gas in ground transportation, commercial and residential constructions. In addition to providing renewable energy, biogas can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and pollutants from conventional cooking. The CCAC is attempting to provide tools to measure, report and verification (MRV) of healthy cooking within communities and households in low- to middle-income countries in order to assist the nations that have included clean cooking goals in their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). Biogas can be used as a substitute for traditional natural gas for cooling and heating, and to replace fossil fuels in the generation of electricity, carbon dioxide emissions will be reduced. Biogas can also be used to produce liquid transport fuels as an alternative that is sustainable to coal, oil, and other fossil fuels. Capturing and recovering methane from food and animal manure waste stops the release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, and also stopping nitrogen runoff that could otherwise cause water pollution. The Plessis Gassot waste landfill, which is non-hazardous in Claye-Souilly, France, for instance collects biogas and converts it into a sustainable supply of energy for the households that are connected to the system. Small-scale biogas facilities can be set up in cities, allowing for the collection and utilization of organic waste from local sources. This can reduce the greenhouse gas emissions that are associated with transportation and treatment. Hydroelectric Power Hydropower is a renewable source of energy that uses the kinetic energies of flowing water. It is the most popular and cost-effective source of renewable energy around the globe. It releases no greenhouse gases directly, but has significant environmental impact. It is a flexible form of green energy that can be adapted to meet fluctuating demand and supply. It has a service life of over a hundred years and is able to be upgraded to improve efficiency and performance. The majority of traditional hydropower plants harness the energy of the falling water by using dams. A series of turbines converts water's kinetic energy into electricity at a speed that is proportional to its velocity. This electricity is then sent to the grid to be used. Hydroelectric power plants require a significant investment in reservoirs and pipes. However, operating costs are low. These flexible plants can also be used as backups to other intermittent renewable energy sources like wind and solar. There are two types of hydroelectric power plants: storage and run-of-river. Storage plants are distinguished by huge impoundments that hold more than a season's worth of water, whereas run-of-river facilities have a small impoundment and draw water from flowing rivers or streams. Hydropower facilities are typically located in or near concentrations of people, in areas where there is a high demand for electricity. The environmental impact of hydropower is dependent on the size and location, the amount of water displaced, as well as the wildlife and habitats affected by decomposition and floods. These impacts can be reduced and reduced by using Low Impact Hydroelectricity Standards (LIHI) for the construction and operation of hydropower projects. The standards provide measures to protect the flow of rivers, water quality as well as protection of fish passage and watershed protection, endangered and threatened species, recreation and cultural resources. Certain hydropower plants are the largest in the world “batteries” because they generate renewable energy by pumping water from a lower pool uphill to a bigger reservoir. If electricity is required then the water from the lower reservoir can be used to power generators. The water from the reservoir above can then be pumped downwards through a turbine to generate more electricity.